Automatic recording/reproducing method and automatic recording/reproducing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Recording reservation information of a plurality of programs is grouped and at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the basis of the reservation information is left on a recording medium. Therefore, a program information registration unit to register a plurality of items of recording reservation information as groups and a reserved program recording control unit to record the reserved programs onto the recording medium and leave at least the latest program among the programs recorded on the recording medium to delete the others on the basis of the reservation information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.11/400,218 filed Apr. 10, 2006, and for which priority is claimed under35 U.S.C. §121. This application is based upon and claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Japanese Patent Applications No.2005-113661, filed Apr. 11, 2005; and No. 2006-086284, filed Mar. 27,2006. The entire contents of all applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an automaticrecording/reproducing method and an automatic recording/reproducingapparatus. For example, one embodiment of the present invention relatesto a method or an apparatus which automatically records a desiredprogram onto a recording medium by using electronic program guide (EPG)information.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, an information recording medium such as a hard disk andan optical disk as a recording medium has been increased in its storagecapacity. Therefore, a method and an apparatus for automaticallyrecording a desired program on a recording medium by connectingrecording/reproducing equipment using such the recording medium to, forexample, a television receiver have been prevailed. Program recordingreservation information is prepared by using the EPG information so asto realize an automatic recording function and an automaticrecording/reproducing apparatus. It has been taken into considerationfor an apparatus to automatically set the recording reservationinformation by automatically searching for a program related to theconcerned category from the EPG information when a desired category isspecified (refer to, for example, Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication (KOKAI) 2004-220696).

As mentioned above, the program recording reservation information(including such as a broadcast start time and a broadcast ending time ofa reserved program) prepared by referring to the EPG information or aninstruction manual is stored on a memory and the apparatus is broughtinto a stand-by state. Then, when a timer detects the broadcast starttime of the reserved program, the apparatus executes recording of thereserved program in the corresponding broadcast time slot.

A conventional apparatus; however records all of a plurality of reservedprograms or categories. For example, the reservation for a plurality ofnews programs different in time slot causes to record all theseprograms.

However, it may be sufficient for a user to view the latest newsprogram, so that the recording of old news programs is a waste of time.And in terms of the weather forecast, it is sufficient for the user toview the latest forecast program, and thus recording old whetherforecast programs is a waste of time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an automaticrecording/reproducing method and an automatic recording/reproducingapparatus.

One embodiment of the present invention is configured to reproduce thelatest program recorded according to a group recording reservation onthe recording medium when a predetermined user operation is performed.

The embodiment of the present invention has a program reservationinformation registration unit which registers a group recordingreservation of a part of a plurality of recording reservations; arecording control unit which records reserved programs corresponding tothe group recording reservation on a recording medium; a reproductioncontrol unit which reproduces the program at the last recorded accordingto the group recording reservation on the recording medium when apredetermined user operation is performed; and an output unit whichoutputs an output reproduced by the reproduction control unit to adisplay unit.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A general architecture that implements the various feature of theinvention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Thedrawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrateembodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view for explaining an outline of a digitaltelevision broadcast receiver to which the present invention is adopted;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for further specifically showing aconfiguration of the inside of the broadcast receiver in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining an external view of a remotecontroller used in the broadcast receiver of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart when the broadcast receiver in FIG. 1records a program on the basis of EPG information;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining an example when a videodisplay unit of the broadcast receiver in FIG. 1 displays programinformation;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view for explaining an example when an automaticrecording function unit constituting a featured part of the broadcastreceiver regarding the present invention is operated;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary view for explaining another example of a screenwhen the automatic recording function unit is operated;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view for explaining another example of a screenand an example of setting and deleting of reservation information for a“Latest News” program when the automatic recording function unitconstituting the featured part of the broadcast receiver regarding thepresent invention is operated;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary view for explaining yet another example of ascreen and a reproduction situation of a recorded “Latest News” programwhen the automatic recording function unit constituting the featuredpart of the broadcast receiver regarding the present invention isoperated;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view for explaining yet another example of ascreen and an example of setting for the first time of “Latest News”recording when the automatic recording function unit constituting thefeatured part of the broadcast receiver regarding the present inventionis operated;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary view for explaining further another example of ascreen of a screen and an example of a screen to perform a chasingreproduction when the automatic recording function unit constituting thefeatured part of the broadcast receiver regarding the present inventionis operated;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary view for explaining an example of a flowchartwhen the automatic recording function unit constituting the featuredpart of the broadcast receiver regarding the present invention isoperated;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary view for showing a block diagram of functionsincluded in the automatic recording function unit constituting thefeatured part of the broadcast receiver regarding the present invention;and

FIG. 14 is an exemplary view for showing another example of a blockdiagram of functions included in the automatic recording function unitregarding the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments according to the invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the external appearance of adigital television broadcast receiver 11 of this embodiment and anetwork system configured around the broadcast receiver 11.

The broadcast receiver 11 is composed mainly of a thin cabinet 12 and asupport base 13, which raises and supports the cabinet 12. The cabinet12 is provided with a flat panel type video display unit 14 composed ofa liquid crystal display panel or the like, a loudspeaker 15, anoperation unit 16, and a light receiving unit 18 to receive operationinformation transmitted from a remote controller 17.

The broadcast receiver 11 is adapted to receive a first detachablememory card 19 such as a secure digital (SD) memory card, a multimediacard (MMC) or a memory stick, and performs recording/reproducing ofinformation about a program or a photograph, for example, to and fromthe first memory card 19.

The broadcast receiver 11 is further adapted to receive a seconddetachable memory card (IC card) 20 with, for example, contractinformation recorded thereon and performs recording/reproducing ofinformation to and from the second memory card 20.

The broadcast receiver 11 is provided with a first local area network(LAN) terminal 21, a second LAN terminal 22, a universal serial bus(USB) terminal 23 and an i.Link (registered trademark) terminal 24.

Among these terminals, the first LAN terminal 21 is used as aLAN-compatible HDD dedicated port. The first LAN terminal 21 isconnected to a LAN-compatible HDD 25 being a network attached storage(NAS). The first LAN terminal 21 is used to record/reproduce informationvia Ethernet (registered trademark).

As mentioned above, by providing the first LAN terminal 21 to be theLAN-compatible HDD dedicated port, the broadcast receiver 11 can recorda program with a high image quality to the HDD 25 without beinginfluenced by other network environment or the status of use of thenetwork.

The second LAN terminal 22 is used as a general LAN-compatible portusing Ethernet. The second LAN terminal 22 is connected to equipment,for example, a LAN-compatible HDD 27, personal computer (PC) 28, and adigital versatile disk (DVD) recorder 29 with a built-in HDD through ahub 26.

Since digital information communicated through the second LAN terminal22 is control information, the DVD recorder 29 utilizes a dedicatedanalogue transmission path 30 to transmit analog information of videoand sound to the broadcast receiver 11.

The second LAN terminal 22 is connected to, for example, a network 32such as the Internet via a broadband router 31 connected to the hub 26and used to communicate information between a PC 33, a cellular phone 34or the like, and the broadcast receiver 11 via the network 32.

The USB terminal 23 is used as a general USB-compatible port, connectedto, for example, a cellular phone 36, a digital camera 37, a cardreader/writer 38 for a memory card, an HDD 39, or a keyboard 40. The USBterminal is used to make information transmissions between the equipmentand the broadcast receiver 11.

The foregoing i.Link terminal 24 serially connects an AV-HDD 41, adigital (D)-video home system (VHS) 42, etc. and supports informationtransmissions between the equipment and the broadcast receiver 11.

FIG. 2 shows the principle signal processing series of the foregoingbroadcast receiver 11. That is, a satellite digital television broadcastsignal, received at an antenna 43 for receiving BS/CS digital broadcast,is supplied to a tuner 45 for satellite digital broadcast through aninput terminal 44, and the tuner 45 tunes a broadcast signal of adesired channel.

The broadcast signal tuned by the tuner 45 is fed to a phase shiftkeying (PSK) demodulator 46 to be demodulated to a digital video signaland a digital sound signal, which are output to a signal processor 47.

The broadcast receiver 11 also has an analog tuner 68 for receiving aterrestrial analog signal. An analog demodulator 69 demodulates thesignal received by the analog tuner 68 to output it to the signalprocessor 47.

A terrestrial digital television broadcast signal, received at a secondantenna 48 for receiving terrestrial digital broadcast, is supplied to atuner 50 for the terrestrial digital television broadcast via an inputterminal 49. The tuner 50 tunes the broadcast signal of the desiredchannel.

The broadcast signal tuned by the tuner 50 is supplied to an orthogonalfrequency division multiplexing (OFDM) demodulator 51 to be demodulatedto a digital video signal and a digital sound signal then are suppliedto the signal processor 47.

The signal processor 47 selectively conducts prescribed digital signalprocessing of the digital video signals and sound signals supplied fromthe PSK demodulator 46 and from the OFDM demodulator 51. The signalprocessor 47 processes the video signals and analog signals suppliedfrom the analog demodulator 69 and further from the line inputterminals, and outputs an output signal to a graphics processor 52 and asound processor 53.

Among the processors, the graphics processor 52 has a function tosuperimpose an on-screen display (OSD) signal generated from an OSDsignal generator 54 on the digital video signal supplied from the signalprocessor 47 to output the superimposed signal. The graphics processor52 can selectively output the video signal output from the signalprocessor 47 and the OSD signal output from the signal generator 54 andalso combine to output both outputs so that both outputs configure ahalf of a screen, respectively.

The digital video signal output from the graphics processor 52 issupplied to a video processor 55. The video processor 55 converts theinput digital video signal into an analog video signal in a formatpossible to be displayed on the video display unit 14 and outputs theanalog video signal to the video display unit 14 to produce a videodisplay.

The sound processor 53 converts an analog sound signal in a format thatcan be reproduced by the loudspeaker 15 and outputs the analog soundsignal to the loudspeaker 15 to make a sound reproduction.

As further shown in FIG. 2, the broadcast receiver 11 further comprisesa control unit 56. The control unit 56 has a built-in central processingunit (CPU), which receives operation information from the operation unit16, or receives operation information transmitted from the remotecontroller 17 and respectively controls each part so as to reflectoperation contents thereto.

In this case, the control unit 56 mainly uses a read only memory (ROM)57 with a control program to be executed by the CPU stored thereon, arandom access memory (RAM) 58 to provide an operation area for the CPU,and a nonvolatile memory 59 in which a variety of items of settinginformation and control information are stored.

The control unit 56 is connected to a card holder 61 to which the firstmemory card 19 can be attached through a card interface 60. The controlunit 56 is adapted to support the exchange of information transmissionswith the first memory card 19 attached to the card holder 61 through thecard interface 60.

The control unit 56 is further connected to a card holder 63 to whichthe second memory card 20 can be attached through a card interface 62.The control unit 56 thereby can communicate information with the secondmemory card 20 attached to the card holder 63 through the card interface62.

The control unit 56 is also connected to the first LAN terminal 21through a communication interface 64. The control unit 56 thereby cancommunicate with the LAN-compatible HDD 25 connected to the first LANterminal 21 through the communication interface 64. In this case, thecontrol unit 56 has a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) serverfunction and assigns an Internet protocol (IP) address to theLAN-compatible HDD 25 connected to the first LAN terminal 21 to controlthe HDD 25.

The control unit 56 is further connected to the second LAN terminal 22through a communication interface 65. The control unit 56 thereby cancommunicate with any equipment (refer to FIG. 1) connected to the secondLAN terminal 22 through the communication interface 65.

The control unit 56 is further connected to the USB terminal 23 througha USB interface 66. The control unit 56 thereby can communicate with anyequipment (refer to FIG. 1) connected to the USB terminal 23 through theUSB interface 66.

Furthermore, the control unit 56 is connected to the i.Link terminal 24through an i.Link interface 67. Thereby, the control unit 56 cancommunicate with any equipment (refer to FIG. 1) connected to the i.Linkterminal 24 through the i.Link interface 67.

The control unit 56 includes an automatic recording function unit 56 afunctioning as a below-described grouped recording reservationinformation processor. The recording function unit 56 a may be referredto as a “Latest News” processor, or a “latest news” processor. Therecording function unit 56 a is different from an ordinary automaticrecording function unit (here, referred to as a second automaticrecording function unit) to record and store all programs reserved forrecording in accordance with an electronic program table and aninstruction manual and provided independently from the second automaticrecording function unit. The recording function unit 56 a has a functionto automatically delete the old recorded programs and leave thelatest-recorded program. The recording function unit 56 a serves aresume function when the broadcast receiver 11 returns to a viewingstate for the recorded program after the broadcast receiver 11 isswitched to a state of viewing of a program being now on air. A storagecapacity to be secured on a hard disk by the recording function unit 56a is sufficiently smaller than that to be secured on the hard disk bythe automatic recording function unit 56 b.

FIG. 3 shows an external view of the remote controller 17. The remotecontroller 17 mainly comprises a power key 17 a, input switching keys 17b, direct tuning keys 17 c for satellite digital broadcast channels,direct tuning keys 17 d for terrestrial broadcast channels, a quick key17 e, a cursor key 17 f, a determination key 17 g, a program table key17 h, page switching keys 17 i, a face net (registered trademark)(navigation) key 17 j, a return key 17 k, a terminate key 17 l, colorkeys in blue, red, green and yellow 17 m, a channel up and down key 17n, a sound volume adjusting key 17 o, a “Slight time” key 17 q, a“Slight skip” key 17 r and a “Latest News” key 17 p, etc.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart for explaining the operations of the broadcastreceiver 11 in recording a program into the digital recording equipmentwith each of the equipment connected to the terminals 21-24 of thebroadcast receiver 11. When processing is started resulting form arequest of the recording of the program (step S1), the control unit 56of FIG. 2 displays the program table as shown in FIG. 5 on the videodisplay unit 14 on the basis of electronic program guide (EPG)information acquired from the broadcast signal (step 2).

The user then makes recording reservation setting of the desiredprograms on the basis of the displayed program table (step 3). In thissetting, the broadcast receiver 11 selects the program to be recordedfrom the program table and also selects to set the digital recordingequipment to which the reservation-set program is recorded.

The control unit 56 executes a recording operation so as to record thereservation-set program into the reservation-set digital recordingequipment when it has reached the preset time set for the recordingreservation (step S4).

The control unit 56 then determines whether or not the program recordingoperation has normally completed, and if it is determined that therecording operation has completed normally (Yes, in step S5), thebroadcast receiver 11 records equipment information (equipment ID,equipment name, shared folder name, etc.) to specify the digitalrecording equipment which has performed recording. The broadcastreceiver 11 further records event information (event ID, channel number,title, content description, category, recording range, image qualitymode, etc.) related to the recorded program into the nonvolatile memory59 (step S6) and terminates this processing (step S7).

If it is determined that the operation has not completed normally (No,in step S5), the control unit 56 of FIG. 2 displays a message indicatingthe fact that the operation has not completed normally onto the videodisplay unit 14 of FIG. 1 (step S8) and terminates this processing (stepS7).

According to the above-mentioned recording operations, the user canarbitrarily select multiple sets of digital recording equipmentconnected to each terminal 21-24 of the broadcast receiver 11 and recordprograms sequentially.

FIG. 6 shows another method for making a recording reservation forprograms. The recording function according to this recording reservationhas the following features.

The recording function is characterized in that it groups a plurality ofitems of program recording reservation information, records the reservedprograms onto the recording medium and leaves at least the latestprogram among the grouped programs, and deletes the others.

The “Latest News” key 17 p provided with the remote controller 17 (FIG.3) is operated so as to operate this recording reservation function. Theoperation of the “Latest News” key 17 p causes to operate the automaticrecording function unit 56 a in the control unit 56 and display a screen601 in FIG. 6. The screen 601 displays, as guides, expressions of“Setting for the first time, “Setting of terrestrial broadcast channel”,“Initial scanning has completed” and “Do you confirm setting content?”It also indicates selection buttons of “YES” and “NO”, and a mark of thecursor key 17 f for usage guidance of this recording function unit 56 a.Now, it is assumed that the user selects the button of “YES” then thescreen 601 switched to a screen 602 to display how the layout of thescreen 602 is.

The user may switch pages by using the cursor key 17 f from the screen602. If the user presses the determination key 17 g, the screen 602 isswitched to a screen 603. The user can switch the screen 601 to thescreen 603 by selecting the button “NO” on the screen 601 and press thedetermination key 17 g. The user can also shift to the screen 603 byselecting the button for “NO” on the screen 601 to press thedetermination key 17 g.

The screen 603 displays the following contents, as a guide: “Setting forthe first time, Setting of terrestrial broadcast channel, You mayautomatically record ‘news program right now’ from the content ofsetting of a terrestrial broadcast channel. “Do you start automaticrecording of ‘news program right now’?” In the display state of thescreen 603, if the user selects the button “YES”, a list of programsreserved for recording which is set by default, as shown on a screen604.

Here, the user may make a reservation for a plurality of news programsof the N−1 general channel differing in time slot with one another. Thelist is indicated in order of the number of the direct selection keys 17c of the remote controller 17, the channel number, the name of thebroadcast station, the broadcast time slot, from the left. If the userpresses the determination key 17 g in the display state of the screen604, the news programs indicated on the screen 604 are registered as therecording reserved programs. The screen 604 then shifts to a screen of afavorite program setting state (for example, screen in FIG. 5).

At this point, following functions or conditions are given in theabove-mentioned setting.

That is:

(a) News programs to be periodically recorded are set in the menu of“Setting of ‘news program right now’ ”;

(b) The longest recording time for one program is 90 minutes;

(c) Recording of 9 program items at maximum is available;

(d) Registration of reserved news program is available by selecting anitem of “new registration” (this function will be described later);

(e) Selection of cancellation or maintenance of reservations isavailable by selecting any item of already registered programs from alist;

(f) Display of, for example, “Registration is not available because therecording times are double-reserved” is indicated if the programs areoverlapped as a result of a new registration; and

(g) Display of a message such as “Registration of this program is notavailable because of insufficient space on built-in HDD. Please retry toregister it after deleting a recorded program”, if a capacity to recorda ‘news program’ cannot be secured due to the lack of space on the HDD.

The basic concept of above mentioned invention includes followingmatters.

A program reservation information registration unit registers a grouprecording reservation of a part of a plurality of recordingreservations. A recording control unit records reserved programscorresponding to the group recording reservation on a recording medium.A reproduction control unit reproduces the program at the last recordedaccording to the group recording reservation on the recording mediumwhen a predetermined user operation is performed. And an output unitwhich outputs an output reproduced by the reproduction control unit to adisplay unit.

However, the program reservation information registration unit mayregister at least one recording reservation of a part of a plurality ofrecording reservations. In this case, the recording control unit recordsreserved programs corresponding to the recording reservation on arecording medium.

FIG. 7 shows a screen for explaining the method to register at least onerecording reservation or one or more recording reservation which is apart of the plurality of recording reservations. The plurality ofrecording reservations is ordinarily program recording reservationinformation.

Items of “Setting of ‘news program right now’ ” and ordinarily programrecording reservation information are displayed on the screen 611. Auser operates the remote controller, and points the desired programrecording reservation information by moving the cursor. After thisoperation, the user pushes the decision key. As the consequence, one ormore recording reservation is resisters.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen for explaining functions to deleteprogram reservation information registered.

When the user operates the “Latest News” key 17 p, a screen 701 isdisplayed. At this moment, items of already registered programreservation information and newly registered items are indicated. Forexample, some programs have already been registered by default. At thistime, when the user selects an item 701 a of the reserved programreservation information (indicated on the screen 701 in a highlightedcolor) by moving the cursor key 17 f to press the determination key 17g, the screen 701 is shifted to a screen 702. The operation of thecursor key 17 f causes a movement of the cursor key 17 g. The screen 702indicates an inquiry about the interruption of the recording relating tothe selected program reservation information. If the user moves thecursor by using the cursor key 17 f to select the button “YES” and pressthe determination key 17 g, then the screen 702 is shifted to a screen703. That is, a state in which the item 701 a of the program reservationinformation that has already been selected on the screen 701 is deletedis caused. If the user selects the button “NO” and presses thedetermination key 17 g, the screen 702 returns back to the screen 701.

Next to this, on the screen 701, when the user selects an item 701 bindicated as “New registration” by means of the cursor key 17 f andpresses the determination key 17 g, the screen 701 shifts to a screen704.

On the screen 704, the user decides the kind of a broadcast to bereceived (the kind includes BS broadcast, CS broadcast, terrestrialdigital broadcast and terrestrial analog broadcast). Next, a remotecontroller number, a receiving channel, etc., are decided. An operationof the determination key 17 g on the screen 704 makes a shift to ascreen 705. At this time, the determination key 17 g sets setting of arecording date (every day or day of week) and time slot (start time andending time). A press of the determination key 17 g on the screen 705makes a shift to a screen 706 to display a list of the items of theprogram reservation information already registered.

The user may operate the return key 17 k of the remote controller 17 inorder to return back from the screen 705 to the screen 704 or from thescreen 702 to the screen 701. A screen shift is not executed and analarm is displayed or an alarm sound is output, in the case ofinsufficient setting information when the screen 704 shifts to thescreen 705 and when the screen 705 shifts to the screen 706, or in thecase of a overlapped-reservation of the recording time slot with otherregistered time slots.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the case of viewing of a recorded program. Ascreen 801 shows an on-air state of a program. Here, if the user pressesthe “Latest News” key 17 p of the remote controller 17 the reproductionof the latest-recorded news program is started, as shown on the screen802. During an initial period of the reproduction, a broadcast time slotin which the news program has been broadcasted is indicated as asituation display at the lower part of the screen 802. In the exampleshown in FIG. 9, the broadcast time slot is that of PM 09:00 to PM09:15. And, the time corresponding to a reproduction position isdisplayed simultaneously. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the timecorresponding to a reproduction position is PM 09:01. After the elapseof a prescribed time period, the program information on the news programdisappears from the screen, as shown on a screen 804.

A pressing of the “Latest News” key 17 p on the screen 802 or the screen804 causes an on-air display state of the selected program (refer to thescreen 803). In addition, if the user presses the “Latest News” key 17 pon the state (screen 803), the screen 803 returns again to the screen802 or the screen 804.

At this time, during the viewing of the ‘Latest News program’, whenshifting to on-air display then returning back to the viewing state ofthe ‘Latest News program’ for the second time, the broadcast receiver 11operates the resume function.

The automatic recording function unit 56 a as the “Latest News”processor greatly differs from usual recording function units whichrecord and save all programs already reserved for recording. Therecording function unit 56 a is independently provided from the secondrecording function unit. The recording function unit 56 a has thefunction to automatically delete the old recorded programs and leave atleast the latest-recorded program. In the reproduction state of the oldrecorded programs, in the case of returning to the viewing state of therecorded programs again after switching to the viewing of the programbeing now on air, the resume function is activated. The recordingcapacity to be secured on the hard disk by the recording function unit56 a is sufficiently smaller than that to be secured on the hard disk bythe second recording function unit.

FIG. 10 shows a guide example when the “Latest News” key 17 p is pressedwithout the reservation information by default, as shown on the screen701 in FIG. 8. If the “Latest News” key 17 p is pressed on a screen 901of FIG. 10, the screen 901 shifts to a screen 902. Here, a guide isindicated while an on-air image is displayed in a background with amotion image. The guide is expressed as follows: “‘News right nowprogram’ has not been registered. Automatic registration of ‘Latest Newsprogram’ is available by performing setting for the first time. Do youset for the first time?”

The selection of the button “NO” on the screen 902 by the user returnsthe screen 902 to the screen 901 and the selection of the button “YES”shifts the screen 902 to a screen 903. The screen 903 indicates thefollowing contents such that “Setting for the first time. Thank you foryour purchasing of the equipment. Now, we will proceed to necessarysetting for receiving a digital broadcast in the following order. Pleaserefer description of each screen and the instruction manual.”“Terrestrial broadcast channel setting Favorite program setting Zip codesetting Telephone line setting Easy connection test”.

When pressing the determination key 17 g on the screen 903, the screen903 shifts to the next screen and the user can generate the recordingreservation information of the desired program in the manner for the newregistration as described for FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary view for explaining an example of otheroperations of the broadcast receiver 11 regarding the present invention.The pressing of the “Latest News” key 17 p in the midst of recording ofthe news program, based on the reservation information, generatesfunctions as follows.

A screen 1101 in FIG. 11 is a screen indicating an on-air state of aprogram. At this time, it is assumed that, in another channel, thebroadcast receiver 11 is in the midst of current recording of the newsprogram on the basis of the recording reservation information of “LatestNews”. If the “Latest News” key 17 p is pressed, the screen 1101 makes ashift to a screen 1102. Then, the latest-recorded news program isreproduced. This news program is now in recording, so that the broadcastreceiver 11 is brought into the chasing reproduction state.

The screen 1102 produces a display state indicating that the newsprogram is in the middle of recording. A display state indicates abroadcast time slot in which the news program is broadcasted. In theexample shown in FIG. 11, the time slot is that of PM 9:00 to PM 9:15. Atime corresponding to a reproduction position is indicatedsimultaneously. In an example shown in FIG. 11, the time correspondingto the reproduction position is that of PM 09:01. After the elapse of aprescribed time period, the program information of the news programdisappears from the screen, as shown on the screen 804.

However, if the screen 1102 indicates that the current actual time is AM9:08, the status of the screens 1102 and 1103 is the chasingreproduction states. In the chasing reproduction state, when the userpresses the “Latest News” key 17 p, the screens 1102 and 1103 shift toan on-air screen 1104. It is assumed that when the screens 1102 and 1103shifted to the screen 1104, the current time is past to AM 9:15 and therecording is terminated. If the user presses the “Latest News” key 17 pagain in the state of the display of the screen 1104, the screen 1104shifts to a screen 1105 then shifts to the reproduction of the newsprograms which were stored previously. Such a time display is effectiveto make a reservation for recording, based on grouping of a plurality ofprograms. That is, the user can easily determine whether the user nowviews the latest-recorded program or views the news programs which werestored previously.

FIG. 12 shows an operation example of the automatic recording functionpart 56 a included in the control unit 56 in FIG. 2. As described forFIG. 8, the recording function unit 56 a compares the start time in theset reservation information to the time set by the timer (step S11),starts receiving when the recording start time arrives (step S12) andstarts the recording of the “Latest News” program (step S13). After thetermination of the recording, the recording function unit 56 a bringsthe broadcast receiver 11 into a recording preparation state of thegrouped next news programs (steps S14 and S11). Subsequently to the stepS13 with the recording of the ‘Latest News’ program performed therein,the recording function unit 56 a determines whether an on-air receivingcommand (selecting operation) has been issued or not (step S13′). In thecase of issue of the receiving command, the recording function unit 56 amakes a shift to a step S16 to switch over to an on-air display state.If the recording has not been terminated yet in the step S14, it isdetermined whether or not the receiving command has been issued (stepS15). In the case of the issue of the receiving command in the step S15,the step S15 shifts to the step S16 to switch over to the on-air displaystate. In the case of non-issue of the receiving command, the step S15shifts to the step S13′ to enter a stand-by state. Next, the recordingfunction unit 56 a determines whether or not a switching command formaking switch-over to a “Latest News” display has been issued (stepS17). If the switching command has not been issued, the on-air displayis maintained unchanged. Otherwise stated, the step S17 shifts to a stepS18 to start the reproduction by resuming or the chasing reproduction.After shifting to the step S18, the broadcast receiver 11 enters thestand-by state of the step S13′.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.The order of the step S13′ and the step S14 may be changed and the stepS15 may be omitted.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of functions included in the automaticrecording function unit 56 a constituting the featured part of thebroadcast receiver of the present invention.

The control unit 56 includes the recording function unit 56 a tofunction as the grouping recording reservation information processor.The recording function unit 56 a differs from the ordinary automaticrecording function unit (here, it is referred to as second automaticrecording function unit 56 b) to record and store all recording-reservedprograms with reference to the electronic program table and theinstruction manual. The recording function unit 56 a is providedindependently from the second recording function unit 56 b. Therecording reservation setting method of the second recording functionunit 56 b has been described in the description for FIG. 5.

In FIG. 12, when determining that it is the receiving start time as aresult of comparison, the recording function unit 56 a distinguishesthat the reservation information is that of the ordinary automaticrecording function unit or that of belonging to the recording functionunit 56 a. Based on the distinction result, if it is determined that thebroadcast receiving 11 is now in the state of the recording of the‘Latest News’ program differing in processing routine, the recordingfunction unit 56 a makes the shift to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12.However, in the case of the reservation information belonging to thesecond recording function unit 56 b, the recording function unit 56 amakes a shift to a routine perfectly differing from that of FIG. 12.

Next to this, the featured parts of the recording function unit 56 awill be described collectively.

The recording function unit 56 a includes a program reservationinformation resister 56 a 1 to register a plurality of items of programinformation as groups and set a plurality of reserved programs. Therecording function unit 56 a further includes a reserved program recordcontrol unit 56 a 4. The recording function unit 56 a 4 deletes old dataamong the recorded programs to record a new program in the vacated areaor overwrite the new program onto the old data, if a recording area hasbeen filled with data of programs recorded previously when the recordingfunction unit 56 a records a program into a preset recording area on therecording medium 25, based on the program information.

The forgoing ‘preset recording area’ may be an area fixed on therecording medium 25, and also may be an area not specified on therecording medium 25 and only of which the upper limit capacity is fixedin advance.

A latest program reproduction control unit 56 a 6 of the recordingfunction unit 56 a reproduces the programs recorded on the recordingmedium 25. A display output unit 56 a 9 of the recording function unit56 a outputs an output reproduced by the reproduction control unit 56 a6 to the video display unit 14. The reservation program recording unit56 a 4 includes a means to record the reserved programs onto therecording medium 25, leave at least the latest program among theprograms recorded on the recording medium 25 and delete the others. Thatis to say, the recording control unit 56 a 4 has a selecting function 56a 5 between programs to be deleted and preserved.

The remote controller 17 has a one-touch key or a exclusive key (“LatestNews” key 17 p) which outputs a command so as to reproduce the latestprogram recorded on the recording medium 25, as mentioned above.

The display output unit 56 a 9 is provided with an accompanying displayoutput switching function 56 a 10. The switching function 56 a 10alternately switches over between a first state to reproduce the latestprogram recorded on the recording medium 25 and output it to the videodisplay unit 14 and a second state to output the received signal fromthe receiving unit as an on-air output to the video display unit 14 byrepeatedly operating the “Latest News” key 17 p.

An interruption position information processing function 56 a 7 isfurther provided with the reproduction control unit 56 a 6. Theinformation processing function 56 a 7 stores interruption positioninformation of the latest program when the first state has been switchedover to the second state and starts the reproduction again from theposition based on the interruption position information when the secondstate has been switched over to the first state to reproduce the latestprogram.

The reproduction control unit 56 a 6 includes a chasing reproductionprocessing function 56 a 8 to the latest program recorded on therecording medium is reproduced when an operation of the one-touch keycauses the first state to reproduce the latest program recorded on therecording medium and output the latest program to the display unit.

Although the news program is objected and grouped in the aforementionedembodiment, a weather forecast program may be useful instead of the newsprogram. The combination of the weather forecast program and the newsprogram may also be useful. In the case that only the latest program isrequired even if a program is one other than the news program, it issufficient to register the reservation information of the foregoingprogram.

The broadcast receiver 11 regarding the present invention has thefollowing functions. That is, the registration of the reservationinformation so as to record a plurality of programs like the screens 604and 701 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, respectively, allows the broadcastreceiver 11 to specify the preservation for the plurality of programs.In this case, the broadcast receiver 11 moves the cursor key 17 f to theitem of the desired reservation information to press a specifies key,for example, the yellow button of the remote controller 17 then conductspreservation setting. Then, the plurality of programs is preserved aslong as the user does not release the preservation setting after theprograms are recorded once. In other words, these programs are omittedfrom objects to be deleted and to be overwritten.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. FIG. 14shows another example of a block diagram of functions included in theautomatic recording function unit 56. The automatic recording functionunit 56 may be further provided following means. Now assume a curtainnews program is recorded to the medium according to the groupreservation and under the control of the automatic recording functionunit 56. A news title is not stored if a recording scheduling period(for example ninety minute) is elapsed during the recording. A completedrecording discrimination function 56 all discriminates whether whole ofthe news program is completely recorded or not, and determines whetherthe news tile would be record or not.

The recoding operation of the recording function unit 56 a is executedwithout user's senses. The user operation is not limited and affected bythe recoding and reproducing under the control of the automaticrecording function unit 56. For example, there are case that it differsbetween a selected channel selected by the recording function unit 56 aand a selected channel selected by the user operation for an apparatushaving a single tuner. In this case, the user operation is accepted inorder of priority. The priority processing is performed by a useroperation priority processing unit 56 c.

When a news program which is now recording is stopped to recode in thestate incomplete recoding, the news program is not subjected toregister. And the incomplete recoding program is not subjected toreproduce according to “Latest News” key 17 p. These functions areperformed by an incomplete recording program processing function 56 a12. The news program in the state incomplete recoding is the programwhich is not completed the record of the end of the program, during thepredetermined period being elapsed.

Further, it may be provided an on-air news priority selection unit 56 dwhich refers the data base of program information when the “Latest News”key 17 p is operated. The on-air news priority selection unit 56 drefers the data base and judges a news program being broadcastedcurrent, it selects the channel for the news program. Therefore, theuser can view the latest news program. Further, the reproduction controlunit may include following unit. The unit refers the data base andexecutes a chasing reproduction of a program, when it judges the newsprogram is current broadcasted and recorded on the recording medium.

Further, it may be provided an outer storage selection unit 56 e whichaccesses an outer storage, if a news program which was recoded withintwo hours, for example, in past is not existed on the recoding medium25.

Further, it may be provided a web browser selection unit 56 f whichbrowses a web-sight, if a news program which was recoded within twohours, for example, in past is not existed on the recoding medium 25.Further, as another embodiment, a video server is utilized as theprogram storage. For example, all programs of a specified category arerecoded a recoding medium in the video server. When the key 17 q isoperated, for executing the function of “Latest News” viewing, thelatest news program is selected from the recording medium andreproduced. In this case, the news program is associated with categoryinformation and recorded on the recoding medium.

As another embodiment, the latest bilingual program may be selected andreproduced. In this case, the program is not need a program of a part ofrecording reservation.

The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment just asdescribed above, and in the stage of the implementation, it is obviousthat modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblewithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. It isfurther understood that a variety of inventions can be formed byappropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed inthe foregoing embodiments. For example, some of the constituent elementsmay be eliminated from the entire constituent elements shown in theembodiments. Furthermore, the constituent elements extending over thedifferent embodiments may be combined appropriately.

While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methodsand systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in theform of the methods and systems described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims andtheir equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications aswould fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

1. (canceled)
 2. A recording control apparatus, comprising: a programreservation information registration unit configured to register arecording reservation based on program information included in abroadcasting signal; and a recording control unit configured to recorddata for the recording reservation automatically on a recording mediumin order of broadcast, leaving at least the latest data of datacorrespond to the recording reservation which is set by the programreservation information registration unit.
 3. The apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the recording control unit records a reservationprogram corresponding to the recording reservation on a recording areaof the recording medium by overwriting data on a part of a recordedprogram, or records a reservation program corresponding to the recordingreservation in an empty area of the recording medium which is providedafter the recorded program is deleted.
 4. The apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the recording reservation is a reservation of programsincluding a predetermined content, and the apparatus further comprises areproducing control unit configured to reproduce the last recordedprogram among the programs including the predetermined content recordedon the recording medium.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, whereinthe predetermined content is at least one of a weather forecast programand a new program.
 6. A method of controlling a recording controlapparatus including a program reservation information registration unitconfigured to register a recording reservation based on programinformation included in a broadcasting signal and a recording controlunit configured to record a reserved program corresponding to therecording reservation on a recording medium, the method comprising:recording programs for the recording reservation automatically on therecording medium in order of broadcast, leaving at least the lastrecorded program; and overwriting data on a part of a recorded programor recording the latest program for the recording reservation in anempty area after the recorded program is deleted.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein when a reproducing control unit reproducesthe latest program in response to an input operation, the inputoperation is performed by a depression of a dedicated button provided ona remote controller.